Retired NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon will race Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s #88 Chevrolet this weekend in the Brickyard 400.
Dale Jr. sat out of last week’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway due to concussion-like symptoms. Jeff and his wife were on vacation in France when it was decided that a back-up driver was needed for the #88. Therefore, it was Alex Bowman who took the wheel of the car for last weekend’s race.
However, for the next two weeks the #88 Team will have a four-time Sprint Cup Champion as a back-up driver. Jeff moved from racing to the broadcast booth this year as part of the NASCAR on Fox broadcast booth for the network’s coverage of NASCAR. FOX’s half of the season is over and that makes Jeff available to fill-in with his former racing team Hendrick Motorsports, just in a different car than the #24 that he made famous.
NASCAR.com quotes longtime car owner Rick Hendrick saying, “Jeff’s a team player. I know he’ll be ready, and I know Dale has incredible trust in him. It’s going to be an emotional weekend (at Indianapolis) with Dale not being there and seeing Jeff back behind the wheel. (Crew chief) Greg (Ives) and the team did a great job at New Hampshire, and they have the full support of our organization.”
Jeff is a great back-up driver for this weekend’s Brickyard 400 when you consider two main facts. Number one, he is very familiar with the Hendrick Motorsports organization. Number two, he knows how to win the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway having won not only the inaugural event and holds the record for most Sprint Cup wins at Indy with five Brickyard 400 victories. His most recent win in the race was just two years ago in the 2014 Brickyard 400.
Tuesday night (7/19) Dale Jr. was evaluated and did not receive clearance to get back in the #88 Chevrolet to race. He will sit out this weekend and next weekend for the Pocono race with Jeff filling in for both races. There is not a firm timetable for Dale Jr.’s return to racing.
Missing the last week’s race and the next two will drop Dale Jr. out of position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup point standings to make the Chase Grid on points alone. If he is able to return to racing before NASCAR’s playoffs begin he will likely have to win a race to be a part of The Chase and have a shot at winning the championship.
As a NASCAR fan in general and specifically a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan myself, I am glad to see that he, his team, his car owner and the sport is putting his health and safety above the sport itself. Get well soon Dale Earnhardt Jr. to get back to racing. In the meantime, get out there and have some fun Jeff Gordon and see if you can win a race or two in the #88 Chevrolet!
By: Buck Stevens
